Bronx Pizza

People from New York love Bronx Pizza. The Mission Hills shop has the Empire State crowd completely on lockdown. It might have something to do with the decor, which is a constant homage to the Big Apple; its sports teams, famous faces, architecture, and history. To be fair, there are quite a few radical pieces of flair plastered on the walls, like a vintage Rocky III poster with the Italian Stallion in full swagger.

The shop looks minuscule from without, but the interior is actually somewhat labyrinthine. There's a big porch section between two smaller dining rooms, the first of which has the pizza case and the register.

The menu is simplicity itself: they sell pizza. Slices start at $2 and whole pies start at $13.50. Soft drinks--available in only one size -- are $1.50. Bronx Pizza is definitely well within the range of "cheap eats."

I had a few slices, one of them topped with vegetables and the other a "white mushroom" with ricotta cheese and no red sauce. My first impression was that the crust was crunchy. It may be the crispiest crust I've had in recent memory, which is no small feat. They were very thin, but even after being heated up the slices didn't bend when I picked them up. I didn't even have to fold them. Crisp crust being a strong selling point for a lot of people, I can report that Bronx delivers in that respect.

The veggie slice was great for what it was, but it was the white mushroom slice that really took me by surprise. The creamy ricotta cheese, savory mushrooms, and extra-crunchy crust were an excellent combo. I went back for a second slice.

Bronx Pizza represents East Coast pizza style very well. Thin slices, crispy crust, and a "less is more" approach to toppings. The place also has a certain vibe from the staff that reflects an East Coast mentality. There's a sort of tough-guy aesthetic coming from behind the counter that seems, frankly, a little out of place in Uptown San Diego, but it's kind of a haven to transplants (of which there are many in town) who are looking for a slice that's served up without anyone telling you "no worries."

Comments

Some of the absolute worst pizza I have ever eaten in my life. The crust is flaccid and tasteless and the squirrel droppings that pass for sausage is vile. The boxes New York pies come in taste better than this.

I guess Rocky III takes place, at least in part, at Madison Square Garden! But, yeah, you're right that Rocky Balboa is a Philly symbol.

Amazing how small Stallone looks at the start of that movie in comparison to Hulk Hogan. I was just watching that on YouTube earlier this week (after snapping the photo of that poster). Hulkster was HUGE in his day!

Been there, ate that, Mr. Marks Look, either the crust at Bronx is flaccid, as you claim, or it's super-crispy, as Mr. Pike claims. A lot hangs on which experience is accurate. I find that if I order a slice there, the crust is crispy. If I bring it home, it improves with a couple of minutes in a 400 degree oven. Lefty's has many virtues. But is the debate here New York v. Chicago or whether Bronx does New York right?